# cracked.guide vs CS50, and what to do after CS50

> CS50 and cracked.guide compared: Harvard's free intro to computer science versus a 145-week deep path. Why CS50 first, and what comes next.

**CS50x** is Harvard's famous introduction to computer science, free online: Scratch, C, Python, SQL and web basics over about eleven weeks of lectures and problem sets, ending in a final project. **cracked.guide** starts roughly where CS50 ends. If you have not programmed much, do CS50 first. If you finished it and want to go deep, cracked.guide is a strong next step.

## At a glance

| | CS50x | cracked.guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level | Introductory | Intermediate to advanced |
| Content | Scratch, C, arrays, algorithms, memory, data structures, Python, SQL, web, a final project | A dated 145-week path: Crafting Interpreters, then TAOCP Vols 1 to 4B, with NeetCode 150 and a Play track of programming games |
| Cost | Free; a verified edX certificate costs extra | Free site; books and games extra (Crafting Interpreters is free online) |
| Format | Lectures, problem sets, final project | Books, reading guides, exercises, tests |
| Checks | Problem sets checked automatically | Book test suite on GitHub Actions, LeetCode profile, MIX programs graded in the browser |

## Why CS50 then cracked.guide works

CS50 gives you C, memory and the basic data structures, which is exactly the background [clox](https://cracked.guide/glossary/clox), the C half of Crafting Interpreters, needs. Weeks 1 to 28 of cracked.guide then turn that into two full interpreters, and the rest of the path takes the algorithms CS50 introduces and goes as deep as they go, with [Knuth](https://cracked.guide/taocp). [Week 0](https://cracked.guide/curriculum/week-0) fills any gaps in Java, Git and the command line.

## When to pick something else after CS50

If you want breadth next (operating systems, networking, databases), see [OSSU](https://cracked.guide/vs/ossu) or [Teach Yourself CS](https://cracked.guide/vs/teach-yourself-cs). If you want a web development job soon, [The Odin Project](https://cracked.guide/vs/the-odin-project) is the more direct route.

## Questions

### What should I do after CS50?

Build something substantial. Crafting Interpreters is a great next project because it uses CS50's C; then go broad (OSSU) or deep (cracked.guide).

### Is CS50 enough to start cracked.guide?

Usually, yes. Do Week 0 for Java, Git and the command line, then start week 1.

## Sources

- [CS50x (Harvard)](https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/)

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Source: https://cracked.guide/vs/cs50
cracked.guide: A free, dated 145-week path to getting genuinely cracked at programming.